WASHINGTON — It’s the start of the summer season, with trips to the beach and barbecues with neighbors.
But for local animal shelters, this is a different kind of season: it’s “kitten season.”
Katherine Zenzano, community outreach coordinator with the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center says at this time of year, shelters like hers are inundated with adorable, but very needy kittens.
“It’s a phenomenon that goes on across the whole country for shelters across the country at this time of year,” she says.
Right now, her shelter has filled up. “Sometimes we get a litter with a mom, sometimes we get just a solo kitten.” And she says they’re fragile. “They’re so young. They’re not at an age where they can be adopted yet.” So MCASAC is looking for foster families for their felines. Zenzano says you wouldn’t be on your own: there’s training and support—and free supplies available to volunteer fosters.
Foster candidates will get matched with kittens suited to their circumstances; if you work, long yours you wouldn’t be matched with a kitten that needs to be bottle fed every few hours—and yes, they get those.
“Any time you take one animal, or a litter of kittens, it’s opening up space for another animal that is going to be coming into the shelter. It’s really hard to put into words how critical these fosters are,” Zenzano says.
If your heart melts at the sound of a kitten’s meow, and you long for a furry, purring bundle to care for until it finds a permanent home, you’re exactly what shelters are looking for.
Here are just a few of the area shelters that could use your help:
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center
The Washington Animal Rescue League
Animal Welfare League of Arlington
